Basic Civil Engineering PE Flashcards
7 cards from real Civil Engineering PE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Basic Civil Engineering PE flashcards as text
A column with both ends pinned has an effective length factor (K) of:
Answer: 1.0
A pin-pin column has K = 1.0, meaning the effective length equals the actual unbraced length.
In hydrology, the Rational Method formula Q = CiA is used to estimate peak runoff. What are the units of 'i' in US customary units?
Answer: in/hr
In the Rational Method, 'i' is the rainfall intensity in inches per hour, 'A' is the drainage area in acres, and Q is in ft³/s (cfs).
Terzaghi's general bearing capacity equation for a strip footing on c-φ soil includes which three terms?
Answer: Cohesion, surcharge, and self-weight of soil below footing
Terzaghi's equation q_ult = cN_c + qN_q + 0.5γBN_γ accounts for cohesion, overburden surcharge, and the self-weight of the soil wedge.
Which ASCE 7 load combination governs for uplift on a roof during a wind event?
Answer: 0.9D + 1.0W
The combination 0.9D + 1.0W uses minimum dead load to maximize net uplift, which governs when wind causes upward (negative) pressure on a roof.
The Hazen-Williams equation is used for:
Answer: Pressure pipe flow in water distribution systems
The Hazen-Williams equation (V = 0.849·C·R^0.63·S^0.54) is an empirical formula specifically for pressure flow in water supply and distribution pipes.
In roadway design, a vertical curve is used to connect two tangent grades. The length of a crest vertical curve is primarily controlled by:
Answer: Design speed and algebraic difference in grades
Crest vertical curve length is determined by design speed (which sets sight distance) and the algebraic difference in grades (A = g1 − g2).
A steel tension member has a gross area of 6.0 in² and a net area of 4.8 in². Per AISC LRFD, if F_y = 50 ksi and F_u = 65 ksi, which limit state governs the design tensile strength?
Answer: Rupture on net area: φP_n = 187 kips
Yielding: φP_n = 0.90×50×6.0 = 270 kips; Rupture (assuming U=1.0): φP_n = 0.75×65×4.8 = 234 kips — rupture on net area (234 kips) is less, but if U < 1.0 it could be even lower; with A_e = U×A_n, the lower value governs.